MEDIA ADVISORY - Are You Watching Your Step?

National conference on fall prevention to support older persons taking place in Toronto

TORONTO, May 26, 2014 /CNW/ -

WHAT:	In 2004, the direct cost for fall-related injuries for Canadians aged 65 and over was $2 billion - these costs are increasing rapidly due to our aging population which is expected to grown from 4.2 million in 2005 to 9.8 million in 2036. Approximately one third of all seniors fall at least once each year, which means the estimated 3.3 billion seniors will fall at least once in 2036.
	Beginning tomorrow, more than 400 Canadian and global leaders, who work with older people in the fields of medicine, research and social needs, will be in Toronto at the Watch Your Step, the 2014 National Fall Prevention Conference to exchange, develop and share strategies and best practices for helping prevent falls and injuries amongst older adults in every community across Canada.
WHEN:	Tuesday, May 27 and 28, 2014
WHO:	Keynote presenters include:
	Dr. Dean Fixsen, Senior Scientist at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
	Dr. Stephen Robinovitch, Professor, Simon Fraser University Injury Prevention and Mobility Laboratory Technology for Injury Prevention in Seniors
	Dr. Stephen Lord, Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia in Sydney
	Conference program featuring over 40 sessions can be viewed at watchyourstep.com
WHERE:	Eaton Chelsea Hotel
	33 Gerrard Street West

BACKGROUND:
Parachute is dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. A national charity, Parachute officially formed in July 2012, when the former Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and ThinkFirst Canada joined together to become one leader in injury prevention. Parachute's injury prevention solutions, knowledge mobilization, public policy, and social awareness efforts are designed to help keep Canadians safe. Parachute's vision is an injury-free Canada with Canadians living long lives to the fullest. For information, visit us at parachutecanada.org, follow us on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.

SOURCE: Parachute

George James, Parachute, 647 776-5125 (w), 416 402-3783 (c), [email protected]